Chevrolet Silverado Complaints (2021)
989 consumer complaints on file.
- #11734999April 30, 2026UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The special coverage program on the coolant valve for My 2021 Chevy Silverado (70,000mi) is not covered due to my vin not being on the list. Something they say and know is an issue, but not covering it for the vehicles they say they’re covering it for.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11734551April 29, 2026ENGINE
While operating my vehicle under normal driving conditions, I experienced a sudden and complete loss of engine power without warning. The engine shut off abruptly in active traffic, creating an immediate safety hazard and increasing the risk of a collision for myself and surrounding motorists. Following the stall, the vehicle would not restart. The engine cranks but does not start (a “dry crank” condition). There were no prior warnings, indicators, or drivability issues suggesting an impending failure. This vehicle is equipped with the L87 6.2L V8 engine, which is subject to a known recall involving internal engine defects that may result in sudden failure. The symptoms and failure mode observed are consistent with reported cases of internal engine damage, including potential bearing or rotating assembly failure. At the direction of GM and the dealership, the vehicle was previously brought in for recall inspection. The recall was subsequently marked as completed. However, I am now being advised that the recall cannot be reopened and that I am responsible for the repair costs. A completed recall inspection does not eliminate manufacturer responsibility when the underlying defect later results in failure. I understand there is an ongoing and recently reopened NHTSA investigation into GM’s “Pico test” inspection process, as multiple engines have reportedly failed after passing this procedure. Given that this failure occurred after the recall inspection was completed, this incident raises concerns regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of the prescribed remedy. This event represents a serious safety issue due to the sudden loss of power in traffic without warning. I am submitting this complaint to document the failure and to request further review of the recall remedy and associated inspection process.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11734635April 29, 2026STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Water entered tailgate through drainage hole in tailgate cap. The water then dripped on the tailgate switch causing it to short out. This short circuit caused my tailgate to open and close randomly without pressing any switches or buttons or key fobs. May tailgate has a small ding it it now from where it kept hitting the wall while parked in the garage. I took the truck to the dealership to get repairs done and was charged 308.88 for the tailgate switch and diagnosis that should have been under a recall for this truck. Safety Recall N232426400 Tailgate May Open Unexpectedly issued May 2024. I called the customer service number [XXX] to try and get reimbursed for the repairs and they told me there is no recall on my truck. I had this problem and it clearly states the year, make and model of my truck in the recall, but because my vin wasn't included I'm out of luck? I will attach all the info i have on this matter. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11733974April 27, 2026EXTERIOR LIGHTING
While towing at night with horses, trailer lights started blinking on and off, eventually for longer periods, then stopped working all together. Research shows this is a common problem in GM vehicles related to the wiring and trailer light module. This is especially dangerous when pulling horses at night and all of the sudden lights go out. GM issued a technical service bulletin. This should be a recall...
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11734117April 27, 2026ENGINE
I completed the N252494003 recall inspection on my 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 6.2L at Carl Black Buick/Chevy/GMC in Roswell, GA. They said my crankshaft was not one of the vehicles affected and sent me on my way with my free oil change as a remedy to the issue. I subsequently used that information, thinking the “bottom assembly” of my motor was good and not impaired, and proceeded to have the DOD/DFM deleted from the motor because it was a known fail point and this work cost me $7,000. Maybe 6 months after my inspection for the recall, I begin to hear a noise and I take it to the same dealership for service and they tell me the crankshaft is faulty. Nothing about the DOD/DFM delete and subsequent ECM tune had any impact on the crankshaft and yet, the dealership is denying fault when it was there service department hid the truth of the engine during the inspection. The warranty for the crankshaft is no longer applicable because of the modifications I did, but had they been honest about the faulty crankshaft, I would’ve never done that work to it in the first place. The engine should’ve been flagged during inspection and replaced.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11733351April 23, 2026ENGINE
For the second time in my 2021 Chevrolet Silverado with a 5.3-liter engine, I've had GM lifter failure. It's directly related to the Active Fuel Management System (AFM), and was confirmed by my Chevrolet dealer's mechanic and service writer, Burdick Chevrolet in Cicero, New York, on both occasions. They've had to perform a multi-thousand-dollar lifter replacement service job. They've told me that GM is aware of the safety issues, but won't do anything about them. It also happened to me with my 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, but I was lucky that time. It was fixed with new spark plugs and wires. It's cost me thousands of dollars for repairs each time. But that's not why I'm reporting this to NHTSA. The issue is safety. When the lifters fail, you get no warning. The truck rattles and rumbles. It becomes unstable on the road, and sometimes wobbles as if it's about to go out of control. The problem causes the loss of electronic stability control (ESC) and renders the electronic parking brake useless. Lifter failure can also cause the engine to stall while driving, especially at a stoplight. This happened to me. I had to press the gas pedal gently to keep the engine running at a stop light just to get off the road. On the highway, when the lifters fail, the truck slows to a point where it cannot keep up with traffic. That presents a dangerous situation. It's not safe. GM knows about it, but as far as I understand, the company has done nothing to fix the safety problem. Internet forums are full of comments about the problem, the safety issues, and the enormous cost of repairs. Surely your agency can compel GM to fix the lifter failure problem before someone suffers a major accident due to an uncontrollable vehicle. I'll never buy another vehicle with AFM. Many people are unaware of the dangers involved with this system. GM should get rid of it. [XXX] Skaneateles, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11733124April 22, 2026ENGINE
Truck is equipped with a 6.2 engine. It is a 2021 with less than 100k miles on it. Dealership is stating engine failed for no reason. Dealership confirmed engine failure this past week of April 2026. This is a known issue and my vehicle is not under the recall. Truck stalled out of no where. There was no warning before it did it.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11732691April 21, 2026ENGINE, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
right bank collapsed lifter. this is the 3rd time in 5 years this has happened same side same lifter. loss of power engine shakes the whole truck. Also electronic emergency brake won't release automatically and engages when driving. This has happened when I first bought the truck in Mar 2021, again in nov 2024 and currently at antelope valley Chevrolet on Mar 20 2026 for the same thing.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11732133April 18, 2026ENGINE
When taking off it will sometime have hard shifts, shuddering, and acceleration hesitation. While driving, it will do static jolts. Dealer couldn’t pin point problem and advised for a new transmission or we could drive it until it dies. Dealer didn’t recommend to change transmission oil in fear of creating more damage.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11731810April 17, 2026ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced several electrical failures, including the door locks erroneously unlocking and locking while driving, and occasionally, the ignition key could not immediately be removed from the ignition switch after turning off the vehicle, causing the battery to drain. Recently, the vehicle failed to immediately start after inserting and turning the key inside the ignition switch. The cause of the failures was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failures, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11731910April 17, 2026ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that additional engine oil was needed a month or two after an oil change. The contact stated that one quart of oil was added every 1,500 miles driven. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, and it was informed that it was normal operation for vehicles with the 6.2L engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case for the contact and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11731579April 16, 2026ENGINE
I am writing because I have a truck with the 6.2L L87 engine and it has been burning oil at every start up and acceleration from stop signs or stop lights, it blows out a blue cloud of smoke. I have asked Jeff Belzers in Lakeville , Mn to look and they did not as my vin did not show up in the recall. I took it to Maur Chevrolet in Inver grove heights, Mn and they told me that my miles were too high and they did not do an oil consumption test. I am burning 2 1/2-3 quarts of oil every 3,000 miles. I called the GM customer service line and they said there is nothing they can do except note it, so if I do get it repaired and pay for it, I could possibly get reimbursed in the future. If there is a known issue with this engine and there being 3 different engine builders, than why is it that my engine doesn't fall under that recall. It has all the symptoms of the engine failure that is specified in the recall? And it started about 6 months ago. Thank you Sincerely, [XXX] P.S. I have 136,000 miles and the special coverage warranty runs out at 10 years or 150,000 miles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11731450April 15, 2026ENGINE
The coolant control valve failed and the repair resulted in an engine oil leak which persisted for 8 weeks and still has not been repaired. The service manager at the dealership and General Motors Company are trying to figure out how to fix it but are not able to yet. They may have to replace the engine is one thing the service manager said to us this week.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11731041April 14, 2026POWER TRAIN
On my 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Custom, I began noticing an issue around 79,000 miles where the vehicle did not come to a complete stop as smoothly as expected. Initially, I suspected the brakes, as I purchased the truck new and had not performed any brake maintenance up to that point. I scheduled an appointment with the dealership to have all four brakes replaced; however, upon inspection, I was advised that the brakes were still in good condition, with approximately 90% life remaining. I then completed a test drive with the shop foreman, who was able to replicate the concern to some extent and suggested that the issue may be related to the transmission. At this time, the dealership is in the process of disassembling the transmission to determine whether the issue can be resolved with a repair or if a full replacement is necessary. It is concerning that such a significant issue would arise at approximately 80,000 miles. Based on similar reports I have reviewed, this appears to be a relatively common concern within the 80,000–90,000 mile range. Additionally, this poses a serious safety concern, as the vehicle’s hesitation in coming to a complete stop nearly resulted in a rear-end collision while en route to the dealership. There have been no dash lights on.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11731099April 14, 2026ENGINE
Engine Temperature fluctuates. Check engine light comes on, prompt on dash will say engine is overheating. Engine fan stays on high. Code on scanner states Coolant Control Valve. GM has issued special coverage on this exact issue. However, they tell me my truck is not covered. I am very upset with GM as they are failing to address a known concern with my vehicle.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11730823April 13, 2026POWER TRAIN
I was accelerating to 45MPH on a main road. My truck was running just fine. At about 45 MPH it felt like I hit a wall, and my truck started to rapidly decelerate and seemed to be downshifting very hard. A reduced engine power warning appeared in the message display, and the check engine light illuminated and began to flash. I luckly the car behind me was able to change lanes quickly and missed me and I was able to pull off the main road and turn off the truck. I let it sit for five minutes and restarted the truck. When I did, the truck seemed to drive at 25 MPH, and I kept it at that speed and was able to get it to my work down the road. When I got to work, my company's mechanic ran the code. A P2732:00 Transmission control solenoid valve 6 stuck off and P0700:00 transmission control module requested MIL illumination codes came up. We also noticed my truck no longer went into reverse and the engine would just rev and nothing else happened. I had the truck towed to the Chevy dealer who also got a P2732 error code. The truck as been at the dealer for the last two weeks and I have not told them to fix it yet.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11730625April 12, 2026ENGINE
On January 2, 2026, I brought my vehicle in for service to replace the upper and lower ball joints, as well as the control arms. I retrieved the vehicle from the repair shop on [XXX] and departed the same day for travel to Mississippi. Later that evening, while traveling southbound on [XXX] near Columbia, Tennessee, I stopped at [XXX]. Upon re-entering the highway and accelerating to merge into traffic, the vehicle began shifting through gears abnormally. While in approximately 6th gear at around 2,900 RPM, a loud banging noise occurred, followed immediately by a significant loss of engine power. At the same time, the check engine light illuminated. Due to the sudden and unexpected loss of power while actively merging into highway traffic, I was nearly rear-ended by another vehicle. I was forced to take immediate evasive action and pull onto the shoulder to avoid a collision. This incident created a highly dangerous situation not only for myself but for surrounding motorists. This lifter failure occurred without warning and directly impacted my ability to safely operate the vehicle in a high-speed traffic environment. I believe this presents a significant safety concern that warrants investigation. There have been over 600,000 recalls for this and Chevrolet's solution was an entire engine replacement. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11730582April 11, 2026POWER TRAIN
Rough shifting in low gears, can be dangerous in intersections due to low acceleration ability. The check engine light is on for replacement of Transmission Valve Body Assembly.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11730487April 10, 2026STEERING
All of a sudden my check engine light came on with the sudden loss of power steering. Almost impossible to steer at low speeds. After turning it off I waited about 15 minutes then restarted the engine and there was no problem steering. Concern about it happening again in the middle of traffic.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11730178April 9, 2026STEERING
See attached document for complaint.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0